Aeronautical clinometer.



I. MEANS. AERONAUIIGAL 'GLINOMETER. APPLICATION FILED MAR, 22, 1909.

996, 106. Patented June 27, 1911.

FFICEE.

JAMES MEANS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AERONAIITICAL CLINOMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed March 22, 1909. Serial No. 484,935.

sometimes employed for maintaining the lateral and longitudinalstability of the machine; but when traveling over country that isirregular or when for any reason the earth cannot be observed, theoperator is unable to make proper use of such control-apparatus.

The object of my invention therefore is to provide means whereby thedirection and degree of the inclination of the machine from thehorizontal may be indicated to the operator and the manipulation of thecontrolling apparatus rendered independent of outside observation. Withthis object in view I may employ a globule of liquid, preferablymercury, confined between two curved surfaces which preferably arespherical surfaces, one of which may carry a suitable scale, and I mayprovide means for restraining erratic movement of said globule.

In the drawings which accompany and form. a part of this specificationFigure 1' is a central sectionof my improved clinometer, and Fig. 21is adiagram of one form of scale that may be employed.

In the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration,1 is a cylindrical box of brass or other suitable mate. rial providedwith an internal off-set 3 for rigidly supporting the curved plate 2which may be of glass and which preferably is spherical.

portion of the box 1 and provided with a groove 6 for carrying thecurved glass plate 4 which preferably is concentric with the plate 2.The set screws 7 which pass through a flange on the-cylinder 5 andcooperate with the box 1 may be employed for regulating the separationbetween the plates 2 and 4. a

8 is a globule of liquid, preferably mer cury, confined in the spacebetween the The operation is as follows: The clinometer is secured totheaerial machine in a position where it may be readily seen by theoperator and is oriented relatively to the machine so that the twostraight lines on the dial extend respectively in the direction'of thelongitudinal and transverse axes of the machine. The upper plate of theclinometer is then adjusted to adapt the same to the particular type ofmachine on which the device is employed and the globule 8 is therebyslightly compressed to restrain the movement thereof. During the flightof the machine, when the bow moves downward. the globule will movetoward the bow. When the stern moves downward, the globule will movetoward the stern. hen the-machine has a list to port or starboard, theglobule will move to the left or right respectively, and when themovement is a compromise between pitching and rolling, the globule willtake a corresponding compromising position. In any case the degree ofinclination from the horizontal may be read by the position of theglobule with respect to the circles on the dial which may he graduatedto read degrees, and the direction of such inclination may be read bythe position of the globule with respect to the straight lines on thedial.

After the first adjustment of the upperplate 4 above referred to it maybe necessary to make other adjustments either by increasing ordecreasing the pressure on the globule in order to prevent erratic move-5 is a cylinder closely fitting the upper 1 ment of the same and securethe most advantageous degree of sensitiveness. I may also effect changesin the degree of sensitivencss by applying various kinds of coatings,such for example as vaseline, to one or both of the proximate surfacesof the plates 2 and 4, the said coatings serving to increase or decreasethe retardation of the movement the lobule.

T e expression horizontal position with respect to a flying machine isemployed to mean, in the case of aheavier-than-air machine that. thelateral and longitudinal axes of the machine are parallel withthevplane' of the horizon and, in the case of a lighten eeeme ii.

bination two separated curved plates, a globule of mercury. inclosed.between' the same and means for varying the separation of said plateswhereby said globule may be slightly compressed and its movementrestrained.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th dayof Mob. 1909.

JAMES MEANS.

Witnesses E. B. Tommsom' GEO. K. WoonwoR'rH.

